current situation in middle east

The current situation in the Middle East is one formed over many years 
by the oppression of its peoples, including colonization and 
manipulation by countries far from the Middle East.  The unthinking attempts to 
solve a problem by hurting the other side with enough death and damage 
that they will accept one's position cannot work, but is now being 
played out, yet again.

Fresh thinking is needed to find solutions to the real problems that 
exist, not the repetition of old, failed and unworkable policies on all 
sides, not terrorism nor mass retaliation nor oppression.  Such actions 
simply lead to a reinforcement of the existing difficulties, make it 
ever more difficult to find a real, just, and workable solution, and must 
be abandoned.

Any real solutions cannot be enforced by one side on another, nor by 
outside forces manipulating the peoples of the Middle East, or those will 
not ever be real solutions, just another set of enforced inequities 
that will foster more violence, death, and destruction in the future.

All peoples involved in the present conflict are good humans who have 
been oppressed and hurt, and none should be blamed for the distressed 
actions of their governments or other groups operating in their 
territories.  The fears we all feel at the situation should not be used to 
justify our giving in to any pull to act oppressively at any people.

The actions in the Middle East are understandable, given the history of 
the peoples involved. But if past injustices are accepted as sufficient 
reasons to manipulate, oppress and kill others, then there can be no 
end to war, oppression, or terrorism.  Injustices must simply end and 
just solutions must be sought.

A just solution, including a lasting peace and a secure and prosperous 
country for each people as a first step into the future, can only come 
through fresh thinking by the peoples' representatives, each committed 
to finding a good life for all peoples, not for one at the expense of 
another, nor one involving the impoverishment of most for the wealth of 
a few.  Many aspects of those future lives require the ceding of things 
long held as important by one people or another and bound up with great 
emotional attachment based on old battles and injustices. The more of 
us who recognize and face this necessary step and thereby are able to 
hold out a good, rational, and just future as a direction against the 
allure of settling old scores, the more quickly the situation can move 
forward.

The sooner governments and groups, other than the people directly 
involved, stop trying to manipulate the peoples living in the midst of this 
conflict, whether for reasons of political power, religion, or oil, the 
sooner these peoples will attain a good future for themselves.

Thanks to United to End Racism (UER) for this clear thinking.